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← Return to BCBS Advantage no more Mayo
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@roch. Sorry for making a blanket statement. I was speaking for the person who independently buys their own health insurance. None the less, it is important for people to understand what their coverage is 1) People whose former employer/union provide retirement healthcare benefits are dependent on what that entity negotiates in the future...and that could change over time (providers and doctors could exit their network)
2) If people are buying their own plan, then they are better protected getting Original Medicare with a supplemental/Medigap plan than an Advantage plan, because Advantage restricts them to a network and if they want to change to Original Medicare later, they may find it very difficult to find a Medigap plan that will accept them
Replies to "@roch. Sorry for making a blanket statement. I was speaking for the person who independently buys..."
@vic83 The fact that people often must buy their own insurance and other people are covered through employer/former employer plans puts another complication in the already complicated insurance scenario. A neutral broker assists the HR person and the board in choosing the plans for both retirees and present workers. To further add to the explanation, I can go to any medical facility that accepts Medicare in the USA - and I have done so. Show my card, they bill the company, and I have a small copay, usually $10. Please do realize that changes can be made to Original Medicare and Medigap. (I do not want to get political, but I am all for ditching all of this health insurance mess as long as from that moment on we all have the EXACT SAME policy as those in the domed building in DC with the affordability, timely accessibility and convenience as they do. We are all just as special.)
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@vic83 IN THE NEWS RECENTLY: Mayo Clinic will no longer be in-network for most individual Medicare Advantage (MA) plans from UnitedHealthcare and Humana starting January 1, 2026. Mayo Clinic does, however, continue to accept Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and all Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans.
Key Changes for 2026
Beginning January 1, 2026, most individual and Dual Special Needs UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans will be out-of-network for Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Employer-sponsored and group retiree UnitedHealthcare MA plans will remain in-network. All Humana Medicare Advantage plans will be out-of-network for Mayo Clinic facilities. Some MA plans from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Medica were expected to still be in-network in the region.
Options for Patients
Patients who want to maintain in-network care at Mayo Clinic have two main options:
Enroll in Original Medicare with a Supplement.
Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan that includes Mayo Clinic in its network during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7).
Actionable Steps
Patients should verify their specific coverage directly with their Medicare Advantage plan. More information is available on the Mayo Clinic website's insurance page. Switching to Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement may be an option if access to Mayo Clinic is a priority.
These changes are part of a trend where some health systems are terminating Medicare Advantage contracts.